On 22 Jan 2009 at 12:49pm Disillusioned Of Lewes wrote:
Received today confirmation that the following planning applications have been approved,
1. 29 Station Street. Loss of office accom in the town centre and creation of a 3br flat with no garden or parking
2. Market Tower. Loss of public space and creation of contemporary gonaddy "exhibition" area
3. 3 Brooks Road. Change of use from industrial unit into a Church. Bizarrely I never made any comment about this application but LDC wrote and notified me anyway (which is nice).
On 22 Jan 2009 at 1:17pm Janet wrote:
The market tower isn't public space anyway except to walk through, if you enjoy the stench of urine and vomit and the rooms are currently blocked by the operatic society's use.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 1:27pm alexander lemming wrote:
Isn't the market tower going to house a permanent tom paine exhibition? Sounds like a far better use for the building. I think they should bring back the huge notice board though, that actually was useful.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 2:56pm s.oliver wrote:
Just because no one has been using the market Tower properly, or cleaning it, doesn't mean it couldn't be a useful public space in a town centre which has almost none. I have no idea about the exhibition development that has been approved, or the opera society, but neglecting the proper use of this space in the way that has occurred should be very embarassing to someone.
The Planning Department and LDC have failed to come up with any policy regarding the creation of new town centre housing, and the issuing of parking permits to these new residents, so we can pressume that the increasingly neglectful creep towards parking implosion will continue. ESCC keep selling permits knowing that town centre residents are increasingly less likekly to be able to use them. LDC keeps approving rises, with no co-ordinated thinking with the Highways Authority. Councillor Gardiner is the one to ask about that. Baxters is a good example of this failure.
Brooks Rd Church. Pressumably the Church is considered a business? If not, it is interesting to note that our Council does not deem it necessary to ensure that we retain space for new or growing business in a County Town, in the densly popultaed economic hub of the South East, especially as it isin the designated area. There may be an explaination, but given the number of cock ups, and planning report distortions going on it that department, who knows. Asking a Councillor might help, but as we all know, they are told (incorrectly)not to reply to those irritating little people they represent, so it is hard to know.We only have ourselves to blame for letting our Councillors continue to carry on like this.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 3:20pm sashimi wrote:
The planning permission for Brooks Road is for a replacement for King's Church who are being kicked out of the unit they rent from Tesco (required if the proposed Tesco expansion goes ahead). If you want to stop this happening, oppose the Tesco application before 30 Jan.
The conversion of the Market Tower is for the Tom Paine Exhibition.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 3:23pm exiledfromLewes wrote:
"I have no idea about the exhibition development that has been approved, or the opera society, but neglecting the proper use of this space in the way that has occurred should be very embarassing to someone."
It's not a public space, it's been bought by the Tom Paine Society so it can be opened up to the public. The fact that you've never heard of the exhibition plans says more about yourself then anything else, it's not like the plans havn't been widely circulated.
"Just because no one has been using the market Tower properly, or cleaning it, doesn't mean it couldn't be a useful public space in a town centre which has almost none."
I'm pretty sure that the building itself has cleaners. The fact that people chose to urinate outside in the passageway says more about the lack of consideration for others. Unless you expect a SWAT team of cleaners to be on patrol 24 hours a day to clean up other peoples mess.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 3:23pm sashimi wrote:
The planning permission for Brooks Road is for a replacement for King's Church who are being kicked out of the unit they rent from Tesco (required if the proposed Tesco expansion goes ahead). If you want to stop this happening, oppose the Tesco application before 30 Jan.
The conversion of the Market Tower is for the Tom Paine Exhibition.
On 22 Jan 2009 at 9:33pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Lewes Town Council planning meeting at 7pm next Tuesday at the Town Hall. Tesco will be presenting their plans. They are also having an exhibition at Tescos I understand next week.
Operatic society are moving to part of the rear of the Corn Exchange currently occupied by LDC. Would be interested as to what DOL would prefer to the plan for the Market Tower, I asume that DOL has looked at the plans?
On 22 Jan 2009 at 9:44pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
I don't like the idea of the glass structure that is to enclose some of the public area in the Market Tower courtyard, and I don't like the idea of the subject matter (traitor)
On 22 Jan 2009 at 10:15pm The Tooth Fairy wrote:
Well done Spinster, 'bout time somebody said something about old TP. I can't understand this towns fixation with him. Not born here (Thetford), didn't die here (New York). Lived here for six whole years!
On 22 Jan 2009 at 11:27pm Dave wrote:
Married in Lewes (St Michaels) worked as a customs officer,(as popular as NCP traffic wardens}. Founder member of Headstrong Club, wrote his first important,published work here, in Lewes.
He was quoted by Barack Obama in his inauguration speech,his thoughts are just as relevant today.
On 23 Jan 2009 at 3:43pm Lewes Laugher wrote:
Right on Dave. Tom Paine would never have been the great man he was without the experiences he had in Lewes. We should be proud he was here.
On 23 Jan 2009 at 4:54pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
And even prouder that he left! The traitor!
On 27 Jan 2009 at 4:24pm bogovich wrote:
yeah why do we celebrate him, i'm not up on that part of history, but didnt he basically get America to sack off the UK?
On 28 Jan 2009 at 3:42pm Lewes Laugher wrote:
Spinster and Bogovich - you're swimming uphill against history, if such a thing is possible.